Whisker of a Doubt by Leighann Dobbs

Author:Leighann Dobbs [Dobbs, Leighann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leighann Dobbs

16

I walked down the street to First Hope Church. From the exterior, it didn’t look like much—boxy and white. Once I was inside, it took my eyes a few minutes to adjust to the dimmer light, and I blinked hard to clear my vision. Eventually, I could make out rows of dark oak pews lining the sides of the space. Light spilled in from the large, round stained-glass window set high in the gable at the far end of the church, casting a rainbow of colors across the modest altar.

Frosted rectangular windows with rounded tops were spaced along the walls, but they didn’t let in a lot of light. The air was as quiet as a library and smelled of candle wax and sweet incense. To the left of the altar, three rows of small confessional candles flickered. The candles were a new addition to the church and added to the soothing ambiance.

My footsteps echoed across the empty church as I walked down the marble center aisle on the way to the back, where the office was. That was where I figured I’d find Emma or Pastor Foley.

I’d figured right. Emma was in the office, sorting through a box of candles. She glanced up as I appeared in the doorway.

“Willa! What a nice surprise. What can I help you with today?”

“Hi,” I said, smoothing a hand down my jeans. “I wondered if I could talk to you a few minutes.”

“Oh, well, I suppose so,” Emma said, waving me into her office. “I could stand a little break.”

“Great, thanks.” I stepped inside the tiny room and took a seat in the chair in front of her desk. She was a petite, older lady with gray hair and horn-rimmed glasses. I refused the tea she offered and waited until she settled into her seat once more before asking, “I wondered if you remembered seeing anyone lurking around these parts the morning Albert Schumer was killed.”

“Hmm.” Emma gave me a thoughtful look. “Funny you should ask. Your sister was in here earlier, wanting to know the same thing. I’ll tell you what I told her. The only person I saw in the vicinity that day was Nathan Anderson. He drove away from the post office about six in the morning. I know the time exactly because our bells chime exactly on the hour. I come in before six just to hear them. Plus, I can walk into the narthex and see the sun rising through the stained glass. It’s really beautiful. I saw his car through the glass in the front doors.”

“Sounds like it,” I said, smiling. “Are you sure it was Nathan Anderson?”

“Absolutely. He drives a silver Prius with a little ding on the passenger-side door. No mistaking it.” Emma leaned closer and whispered, “Plus, I know I’m not supposed to say this, but Nathan is a friend of the feral cats, like you. So, I feel like I can talk about it since we’re alone.”

“Huh.” After seeing Nathan arguing with Felicity Bates, I’d had him pegged as a villain.

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